Mixing device



June 27, 1967 H. BEKiHLE 3,328,004-

MIXING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1' 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mveuron HermannBeichle ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-sheaf June 27, 1967 BE|HLE MIXING DEVICEFiled Sept. 17, 196E INVENTOR Hermann Belchle M u w w w 2 M u w N v F fN J Q In u W1? "m 5%. m 3 .1 a. 1.?! a) 4 F a v 2 ll 1% 1 ATTO R NEYSUnited States Patent M 3,328,004 MIXING DEVKCE Hermann Beichle,Heidenheim-Schnaitheim, Germany, assignor to Firma Hermann Beichle,Heidenheim-Sehnaitheim, Germany Filed Sept. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 488,054

Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 17, 1964,

5 Claims. (Cl. 25981) The present invention relates to a mixing device,and particularly to a device for mixing pulverized and granulatedmaterials.

The present invention is particularly concerned with a device which isespecially well adapted to mixing plastic granules with dyestulf, whichdevice comprises a vertical receptacle mounted in a frame to rotateabout an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal cylinder axis.Such an arrangement provides an especially good mixing of the materialscontained in the receptacle because these materials are shown from oneend of the receptacle to the other during each revolution thereof. Theutility of such devices is enhanced if the loading and emptying of thereceptacle can be carried out in a simple manner.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the mixing of solid,granulated materials.

It is another object of the present invention to facilitate the loadingand emptying of the materials to be mixed in a mixing device.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention resides in adevice including a frame having two telescoping members, a receptaclehaving an open end and carried by one of the members, and a covercarried by the other one of the members in alignment with the open endof the receptacle. The device further includes means for telescoping themembers to each other between a first position in which the open end ofthe receptacle is in engagement with, and closed by, the cover, and asecond position in which the receptacle and the cover are spaced fromone another. In addition, there are provided means for rotating theframe, together with the receptacle and its cover, about an axistransverse to the direction of telescoping movement of the members.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mixingdevice has a frame constituted by four hollow tubes disposed with theirlongitudinal axes substantially parallel to one another, a receptacleconstituted by a cylinder mounted in the frame for rotation therewithabout a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thecylinder, one end of the cylinder being open, and a cover plate which iscarried by the frame in alignment with the cylinder for covering theopen end of the cylinder when the latter is displaced longitudinally soas j to come in contact with the cover plate.

Means for displacing the cylinder in a direction parallel to itslongitudinal axis are provided by a base plate on which the cylinder ismounted, a plurality of bars mounted in an upright fashion on the baseplate and each having its free end slidably inserted in one of the tubesand a base plate lifting apparatus made up of driving means rotating aplurality of drums about which cables are wound, each of the cableshaving its free end connected to the base plate, the lifting apparatusbeing mounted on the frame.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the fol- 3,3Z3fi4 Patented June 27, 1967lowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention with the cylinder in its lower position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 showing the cylinder inits raised position.

FIGURE 3 is a partially cross-sectional elevation view of the devicewith the cylinder in its closed position, the view of FIGURE 3 beingtaken in the opposite direction from the views of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 will be discussed together since they all illustratethe same embodiment. It may be seen from the figures that the mixingdevice constituting the preferred embodiment of the present invention isformed by a telescoping rotating frame assembly made up of a framemember having four guide tubes 21 connected together by a collar 22constructed from four flat bars arranged at right angles to one anotherto form a square. One of these bars is connected to a drive shaft 11mounted in a stationary bearing and another one of these bars, which isparallel to the first-mentioned bar, is connected to a support shaft 12which is also mounted in a stationary hearing. The shafts 11 and 12 arein axial alignment with one another and the rotation of the frame iseffected by a driving arrangement constituted by a gear box 14 connectedto shaft 11 and driven by a driving shaft 15 connected to a suitablerotation producing device (not shown). The frame also includes an upperplate 23 in which all of the tubes 21 are rigidly mounted, the plate 23serving to further insure the rigidity of the frame. The frame is thusmounted for rotation about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicularto the axes of the tube 21. The frame assembly further includes a basemember having a base plate 33 upon which the cylinder 32 for receivingmaterials to be mixed is mounted. The cylinder 32 is mounted in such away that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the axes ofthe tubes 21, the length of this cylinder thus also being substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of rotation of the frame. A plurality of solidbars 31 are mounted in an upright fashion on the base plate 33 and arepositioned so that each bar 31 has its free end slidably disposed withina respective one of the tubes 24. The bars 31, like the tubes 24, aredisposed with respect to one another so that each lies at one corner ofa square whose sides are longer than the outer diameter of the cylinder.This arrangement insures that the cylinder can slide longitudinally inthe frame without being impeded either by the tubes 21 or the collar 22.The cylinder 32 has its free end open for receiving and dischargingmaterials to be mixed. A cover plate 34 is disposed opposite the openfree end of cylinder 32 and is provided with a plurality of openingsthrough which the tubes 21 pass in a relatively slidable manner. Thecover plate 34 carries a hollow cylindrical lid member 35 facing thecylinder 32 and positioned to surround the cylinder wall portionadjacent its open end when the cylinder is brought into contact with thecover plate, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. In this position, the lidmember 35 seals the open end of the cylinder 32 and thus prevents theescape of material during the mixing operation. The cover plate 34 issupported from the upper plate 23 by means of a plurality of nuts andbolts and its movement toward the upper plate, which is caused bymovement of the cylinder 32 into contact with the cover plate 34, iselastically controlled by a plurality of interposed compression springs36 which act to hold the cover plate firmly against the open cylinderend when the cylinder is in its closed position.

The movement of the cylinder from the open position of FIGURE 1 to theclosed position of FIGURES 2 and 3 is effectuated by means of a seriesof cables 4 wrapped around drums 43 and having their free ends connectedto points near the edges of the base plate 33. The drums are driven bymeans of drive shafts 42 connected to the output shaft of a motor 41.The motor 41 and the bearing supporting shafts 42 are mounted on theupper plate 23. Catches 45 are mounted on the base plate 33 and arearranged to each engage in a respective one of the notches 24 in thetubes 21, when the cylinder is brought into its closing position, forlocking the cylinder in this position.

The locking and unlocking of catches 45 and the movement of cylinder 32from its opened to its closed position are controlled by well-knownautomatic control devices which have not been illustrated.

Preferably, the two mixing devices of the type described above arearranged in offset relationship with respect to one another and aredriven by the single shaft 11.

In operation, the cylinder is first placed in its open position, asshown in FIGURE 1, with the base plate 33 resting on the floor of theinstallation in which the mixing device is housed. The cylinder is thenloaded with material to be mixed by introducing the material into theopen upper end of the cylinder. Motor 41 is then activate-d to drivedrums 43 in a direction which raises the base plate 33 until thecylinder 32 comes in contact with the cover plate 34, the lid 35 thenseating around the upper extremity of the cylinder wall, as is shown inFIGURES 2 and 3. The catches 45 engage in the notches 24 and the deviceis then in its closed position, sealing the materials to be mixed withinthe cylinder 32. The provision of the catches 45 permits the cables 44to be relieved of tensile stresses during the rotation of the mixingdevice. The lid 35 is given a sufficient height to insure that thecylinder will continue to be sealed if the cover plate 34 should bedisplaced slightly when the material contained in the cylinder is thrownagainst this cover plate during the mixing operation.

The device is then placed in rotation about a horizontal axis by therotation of shaft 11. The shaft 11 is driven by the shaft through theintermediary of gear box 14. Gear box 14 may be constituted by any wellknown type of gear box, and is preferably of the type which induces anon-uniform rotation in the frame, it having been found that a rotationof this type produces a superior mixing action. After the materials inthe tank 32 have been sufiiciently mixed, the shaft 11 is brought torest in a position where cylinder 32 is once again vertical and baseplate 33 is at the bottom of the device. The catches 45 are then opened,by means of any well known automatic control device, and the motor 41 isdriven in the other direction in order to unwind the cables 44 from thedrums 43. The cylinder 32 is thus lowered until the base plate 33 onceagain rests on the floor. The raw material may then be dischargedthrough the open end of cylinder 32.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range in equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mixing device comprising, in combination:

(a) a rotatable frame having a plurality of tubes disposed with theirlongitudinal axes substantially parallel to one another;

(b) a cylinder disposed in said frame with its longitudinal axissubstantially parallel to said tube axes, said cylinder being slidablein a direction parallel to said axes and rotatable with said frame abouta rotation axis transverse to said cylinder longitudinal axis, saidcylinder being open at one end;

(c) a cover plate carried by said frame in alignment with said cylinderfor covering said one end of said cylinder;

(d) a base plate attached to said cylinder;

(e) a plurality of bars fastened to said base plate, each of said barsbeing slidably disposed in a respective one of said tubes;

(f) an upper plate having openings in which the upper ends of all ofsaid tubes are mounted;

(g) an electric motor mounted on said upper plate;

(h) a plurality of shafts connected to be driven by said motor;

(i) a plurality of cable drums each keyed to a respective one of saidshafts; and

(j) a plurality of cables each wound around a respective one of saiddrums and each having its free end attached to said base plate, near anedge thereof.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover plate issupported from said upper plate, said arrangement further comprising: aplurality of compression springs disposed between said upper plate andsaid cover plate; and a cylindrical lid member connected to said coverplate and aligned with said cylinder for surrounding the extremity ofthe wall of said cylinder adjacent said one end thereof when saidcylinder is brought int-o contact with said cover. plate.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 further comprising drive meansconnected to said frame for rotating said cylinder about said rotationaxis at a non-uniform rate.

4. A mixing device comprising in combination:

(a) a telescoping frame assembly mounted to rotate about a horizontalaxis, said assembly including a frame member and a base member mountedto slide with respect to said frame member in a direction transverse tosaid horizontal axis, said frame member including a plurality of tubesand said base member including a plurality of bars each of which has oneend slidably inserted in a respective one of said tubes;

(b) a drum for containing materials to be mixed mounted on said framemember with the longitudinal axis of said drum transverse to saidhorizontal axis, said drum having one end open for receiving anddischarging materials to be mixed;

(c) cover means supported from said frame member for covering said opendrum end; and

(d) power means mounted on said frame member and connected to said basemember for sliding said base member with respect to said frame memberbetween a first position in which said drum is spaced from said covermeans and a second position where said cover means closes said open drumend, said power means including a motor mounted on said frame member, aplurality of drums connected to be driven by said motor and each havinga cable wound thereon, and connecting means on said base memberconnected to the free end of each of said cables.

5. A mixing device comprising, in combination:

(a) a telescoping frame assembly mounted to rotate about a horizontalaxis, said assembly including a frame member and a base memberpermanently attached to said frame member and mounted to slide withrespect to said frame member in a direction transverse to saidhorizontal axis, said frame member including a plurality of tubes andsaid base member including a plurality of bars each of which has one endslidably inserted and permanently disposed in a respective one of saidtubes;

(b) a drum for containing materials to be mixed permanently mounted onsaid frame member with the longitudinal axis of said drum transverse tosaid horizontal axis, said drum having one end open for receiving anddischarging materials to be mixed;

(c) cover means permanently supported from said frame member forcovering said open drum end; and

(d) power means mounted on said frame member and connected to said basemember for sliding said base member with respect to said frame memberbetween a first position in which said drumis spaced from said covermeans and a second position Where said cover means closes said open drumend; and

(e) locking means connected between said base member and said framemember for controllab-ly locking said base member in said secondposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BILLY J. WILHITE, PrimaryExaminer.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, R. W. JENKINS,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A MIXING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A ROTATABLE FRAMEHAVING A PLURALITY OF TUBES DISPOSED WITH THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXESSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER; (B) A CYLINDER DISPOSED IN SAIDFRAME WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID TUBEAXES, SAID CYLINDER BEING SLIDABLE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID AXESAND ROTATABLE WITH SAID FRAME ABOUT A ROTATION AXIS TRANSVERSE TO SAIDCYLINDER LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SAID CYLINDER BEING OPEN AT ONE END; (C) ACOVER PLATE CARRIED BY SAID FRAME IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CYLINDER FORCOVERING SAID ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER; (D) A BASE PLATE ATTACHED TOSAID CYLINDER; (E) A PLURALITY OF BARS FASTENED TO SAID BASE PLATE, EACHOF SAID BARS BEING SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID TUBES;(F) AN UPPER PLATE HAVING OPENINGS IN WHICH THE UPPER ENDS OF ALL OFSAID TUBES ARE MOUNTED; (G) AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID UPPERPLATE; (H) A PLURALITY OF SHAFTS CONNECTED TO BE DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR;(I) A PLURALITY OF CABLE DRUMS EACH KEYED TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAIDSHAFTS; AND (J) A PLURALITY OF CABLES EACH WOUND AROUND A RESPECTIVE ONEOF SAID DRUMS AND EACH HAVING ITS FREE END ATTACHED TO SAID BASE PLATE,NEAR AN EDGE THEREOF.